Sweet Hearts Dance

After 15 years together, Wiley and Sandy Boon (Johnson and Sarandon) seem to have lost their desire for each other; Wiley moves out, prompting good buddy and neighbour Sam (Daniels) - himself struggling to establish an on-going romance with fellow teacher Adie (Perkins) - to try and get the family together again. After a meandering start, the scene is set for an ensemble piece which strives to show that staying in love is a question of continuous hard work. The acting (especially Sarandon) is fine, the Vermont small-town setting picturesquely photographed, and much of the dialogue successfully suggests the awkwardness of people unable to speak openly about their emotions. Yet potentially riveting rows are abbreviated before they get properly under way, continually deflecting the pain and confusion of separation into scenes of near inconsequentiality, worsened by a dire revamped rock'n'roll soundtrack, and rounded off with the usual mawkish ending. Not so much bad as frustrating.